Sailors who fill IA and GSA assignments have different requirements than the average sea-duty assignment. Truman's command IA coordinators educate Sailors on how these assignments can be professionally and personally beneficial.

"You see more Sailors going and wanting to make a difference. I get questions asking how they can go," said Aviation Electronics Technician 1st Class (AW/SW) Todd Rose, assistant command IA coordinator.

"It is very encouraging when you are going through the training and seeing Sailors that have been in for a while having a whole new working attitude and mentality for other things going on around them, and then they bring that back with them. So, I would say that the integrated training between the services and the feeling of accomplishment when the Sailors get back are helping the diversity of the Navy."

In contrast to a Sailor who deploys with a ship, squadron or unit, an IA or GSA Sailor leaves his or her home unit or command to deploy as an individual. Most of these Sailors deploy to a joint operational environment, allowing them to work directly with other branches of the military.

"Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay and the Horn of Africa are the main locations for IA assignments," said Chief Storekeeper (SW/AW) Henry Milton, Truman's command IA coordinator. "There are also IAs in the Philippines, Germany and other North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries. A Sailor can also do an IA in the continental United States."

The IA coordinators also explained the difference between an IA and GSA assignment. While IA billets are considered temporary duty assignments; GSAs are permanent change of duty orders. IAs can last anywhere from six months to 425 days, including all training and in-theater time.

"Right now we have approximately 50 Sailors deployed through IAs. It's a good sized number. Some carriers have as many as eighty personnel on IA," said Milton.